Recent Workshop Testimonials

Before the desert. Before the dust storm.  Before the cold of the pre dawn. I was happy. I had a career that I was dedicated and focused on. After the desert (6 days with Erin on her Death Valley and Eastern Sierras workshop) I have become obsessed. All I can think about is signing up for another workshop. I cannot overstate how much I learned about photography in those few days with Erin. Like most self-taught amateur photographers I had hit a plateau in my skills. Erin gave me a deeper understanding of composition, photographic techniques, and processing of my images. She is an excellent teacher. What I didn’t expect on her workshop was how much I enjoyed being around her and the other workshop participants.  Photography is often a solitary endeavor but sometimes it is nice to be surrounded by people as geeky as you are. The whole experience reignited my love for photography. I’m not sure which of the workshops is next on my list but I do know that I will go back again. Thanks for a great time.

My workshop/tour with Erin was absolutely fantastic! Erin is so kind, thoughtful, intelligent, and extraordinarily knowledgeable about photography and art. It was a wonderful experience and I have great images and memories.

I have to admit that I was a little bit afraid before going: How would it be shooting alongside so many other people? Are we going to see just the popular spots that everyone takes photos of? Would we all go home having the exact same pictures on our memory cards? And so on... Now that I am back home I can tell you that it was not at all like I feared. Our group leaders Erin Babnik and Alexandre Deschaumes took us to wonderful places where we basically saw no other photographers at all. They made sure that we concentrated on translating our own personal visions into powerful compositions. And they have been very helpful whenever we asked for advice of any kind. Most of all, I just enjoyed hiking and talking to all the other landscape photographers in the group about our shared passion. In short: it has been a great experience!

Thank you both for such a wonderful trip through some quite amazing locations. The care and effort you both put into making this trip a success was evident from the first day. The photos I’ve captured on this adventure are probably some of my best work yet. Really appreciate you sharing your time and knowledge with me. I do hope I’ll be able to do another trip with you guys in the near future!

The Death Valley workshop was amazing. I had a great time, learned a lot, and took some good photos. It was mostly due to you. But I do have to give some credit to in Death Valley itself. I had never been there before. I had imagined it to be a more desolate place. I didn't expect all the colors and the richness of scenery. I'll certainly go back.

You were a fantastic instructor. You knew the places to take us to. You showed us how to take advantage of the site. It seemed that you were moving around at the speed of light helping everyone. I also enjoyed your presentations on composition and post processing.

I’ve been home for one week now and I have re-lived our trip every day. I have started a number of thank-you notes, but feel unable to articulate my thoughts without you thinking I’m crazy. So, to begin: I had a wonderful time. The mountains and you were perfect. I have finally started processing the photos. As I work on them I hear your words in my mind about why and how they were composed. Lessons I’ll long remember.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for a wonderful week. It was challenging, educational, fun, and so inspirational. Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge and yourself. I’m looking forward to the Dolomites this summer!

Really good photography workshops leave you with the understanding that they are greater than the sum of their parts. The best workshops, however, can fundamentally change the way that you approach photography. That has been my experience since taking part in Erin and Sean’s Winter Dolomites workshop. Sure, I knew that I’d see some stunning landscapes and I felt confident enough in my ability to leave with a handful of strong photos. But what I didn’t consider was being challenged to reconsider how I approach my compositions. From the very first evening, when Erin and Sean masterfully presented their conceptual approaches to landscape photography, to the final van ride back to Venice, every moment was spent bettering my pursuit and understanding of landscape photography. I can’t remember having as much fun as I had here and my only hope is that we can get a reunion tour on the books soon.

(1) Your workshop had many fine photo opportunities, a superb post processing session, and your undivided attention in the field when requested. In addition, it was lots of fun with a terrific group of fellow participants. Indeed, a very well run photo trip. This was my first photo workshop with you. There will be more.

(2) Thank you for your superb Death Valley Master Class workshop.  I learned a lot, got some keeper images, and had lots of fun.

What an awesome week in Italy...just finished hiking for 8 days in the Dolomites with two very talented professionals, Erin Babnik and Alexandre Deschaumes, as our leaders. It was great to see them at work and to learn from them. As an extra bonus, Erin really knows the area well and made adjustments to optimize our access and work around some weather. The group was terrific and the locations were beautiful.

I wanted to say thank you once again for the workshop. The Dolomites were beautiful (especially the last evening) and I really enjoyed the international group that was assembled. Although you are both artists and have an instinct that is hard to match, I think your contrasting styles were beneficial to the workshop. I have never seen anyone get so close to a finished product inside the camera as Alex and your energy is contagious when you run to find the right composition when you are inspired. Erin is like a force of nature when she sees something special, finding the best vantage point, looking for the right angles, and then sealing the deal with the right shot. It was fun to watch.

I’m writing this testimonial four months after attending the Death Valley / Eastern Sierras workshop with Erin. This year, I’ve been on seven photography workshops with five different instructors. As I go back and review images, the trip I took with Erin seems to be the one that keeps producing. Her expert guidance and dedication to scouting / getting the shot has become evident the more I review my images. Erin wasn't afraid to travel away from conventional destinations in order to get the group their best shots. In the field, Erin was patient and inspiring. The week I spent with Erin has changed the way I photograph and perceive nature.

It was a fantastic group, super well organized, good food and really nice accommodations. The shooting locations were very exclusive and I'm impressed at how well you run your workshops. I will be back for more! I really enjoyed the post-processing session with you and Chip Phillips. I learned quite a bit and am anxious to put it into practice. You guys were incredible leaders and teachers. Thank you for taking care of us. And I loved our mountain chats!

Just back from Erin's Death Valley/Eastern Sierra and Erin's Death Valley Masterclass 2017. If you've never taken a workshop (these were my first) it will take your photography to the next level. Although I was less experienced than others in the group, Erin took the time to patiently answer my questions. The groups were small and personalized. I would say the #1 thing I learned was attention to and discovery in composition. If you're a workshop veteran, these guys take scouting unique locations and being in the right place at the right time very seriously. She is on the cutting edge of landscape photography and at the same time humble and helpful. I recommend her without reservation.

This was my fourth workshop with Erin for a reason. I love Erin’s workshops for the unique remote locations and the great photography knowledge and guidance in the field from Erin and her co-leaders. In all the workshops I attended with her, we got amazing conditions and atmosphere and that’s thanks to Erin’s planning, location knowledge, and willingness to adjust according to the weather conditions. My artistic approach to photography has been influenced by Erin the most and I thank her for that. I will definitely return for more!

Spending few days in Venice after a great photo tour/trip with Erin Babnik and Alexandre Deschaumes in the Dolomites(Italian Alps). The landscape was just breathtaking with great photo opportunities. And of course it was fun as well (a few bartenders asked us to leave because they were closing :-)). They both were fantastic and the group was awesome. Definitely would join Erin and Alex in future workshops/tours.

I recently attended the Eastern Sierra Workshop with Erin Babnik. Erin was awesome! She was a pleasure to spend the week with and was constantly working hard to provide us with the best possible experience. Her knowledge of the locations and weather conditions was outstanding and she provided excellent instruction and guidance. She got us to some great locations and in the end I came away with not only some great photos but a new understanding of composition and processing to build on with my own photography.  Thanks Erin!

I really enjoyed my workshop with Erin Babnik! She took us to some fantastic shooting locations in Death Valley and the Eastern Sierra Mountains, and always got us to the right place with plenty of time to set up for the best light. The group was small (5 people), so there was no problem getting individual help, and we had some great discussions about technique, gear and philosophy. Her price was very reasonable, and I plan to go with her again as soon as I can. I highly recommend her to anyone wanting an advanced workshop in landscape photography.

Had a great time on the trip. Clearly you both care a lot about helping people take and process fantastic photos. From the number of breathtaking locations to the amazing accommodations, it was an unforgettable experience. Thanks!